"Morning
in Front of the Mosque," a photograph from New Delhi, India, by freshman Rachel Steinberg, is
one of the images in a new exhibition, titled "What's Sacred? Princeton
Views," on display in Murray-Dodge Hall. The exhibition includes
photographs taken on campus and around the world, submitted in response
to a call for images that address the question of "what is sacred?"

"Cryogenesis," by freshman Dean Shaban, received special
commendation from the exhibition's curators. The image of a plant in
ice "represents the perseverance of life in the face of adversity,"
according to Shaban.

Below
left: Graduate student Yiftah Elazar sees an "eerie sadness" in his
photo of the square in front of the Jokhang Temple in the Tibetan
capital of Lhasa.

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Exhibition presents diverse views on 'What's Sacred'

Posted January 17, 2007; 09:34 p.m.

by Eric Quiñones

A collection of photographs representing diverse interpretations of
sacred imagery is on view in a new exhibition in the Murray-Dodge Hall
lobby.

The exhibition, titled "What's Sacred? Princeton Views,"
includes 35 photographs by campus community members taken on campus and
around the world. They were selected from some 160 photographs
submitted in response to a call by the exhibition's organizers for
images that address the question of "what is sacred?"

"The
photographs chosen for display represent the full spectrum from
freshmen to full professors. How often do we get that range of
Princetonians involved in a single conversation about what matters to
them most?" said Jeffrey Stout, a professor of religion and one of the
exhibition's curators.

The collection includes images ranging from houses of worship to
nature scenes to an intimate view of handwritten words on a page,
titled "A Thousand Words," by freshman Zachary Ruchman.

Ruchman, whose photo received special commendation by the curators,
explained his inspiration. "I had written a short story and left the
papers lying on my desk when I stood up. I really like handwriting
because I think it can express much more than the plain, typed word
ever will," he noted. "When I sat back down, I noticed the way the
light was coloring the paper. The light, combined with the handwriting,
piqued my interest, so I attempted to visually explore the draft in a
way that complemented the story."

Yiftah Elazar, a graduate
student in politics, submitted a photograph he took five years ago
while visiting the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, where he was "struck by
the quiet resolve of the Tibetans to maintain their heritage." Elazar's
photo captures the square in front of the Jokhang Temple.

"For
me, the answer to the question 'what's sacred?' has always been simple:
Nothing is sacred, because sacredness implies a religious veneration
that isn't a part of my moral or psychological makeup. But visiting
Lhasa has helped me not only to see what the sacred might mean for
other people, but also to identify with their devotion," Elazar said.
"I think that the image conveys my sentiments: It was taken with my
back to the Jokhang Temple, looking at the people going about their
business, and yet, because of the lighting, it speaks of something
extraordinary. At the same time, the sun is setting on the Jokhang
Temple square, and when I look at the picture, I feel an eerie sadness
setting in."

The exhibition was conceived by Paul Raushenbush,
associate dean of religious life, who also served as a curator. In
addition to Raushenbush and Stout, the curators were senior Ben Amster,
executive editor for photography at The Daily Princetonian; Eve
Aschheim, director of the Program in Visual Arts; Janet Dickerson, vice
president for campus life; and Thomas Dunne, associate dean of
undergraduate students. The exhibition is sponsored by the Office of
Religious Life, the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students, the
Office of the Vice President for Campus Life, the Program in Visual
Arts and The Daily Princetonian.

The exhibition will run through the end of the spring semester. The Murray-Dodge Hall lobby is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.